kangmi: learning korean

I thought I would be clever and just check my browser menues -- but it just says 홈 (home) and never "home page"

As far as I know it is. But it could be only for the travesty that is cyworld. Maybe someone with better Korean than I have can tell us.

I'm working through the front page of http://www.Daum.net/, and you can see 홈피 as part of the top menu.

The travesty known as cyworld? Heh heh.

Easy now. Some of us do Cyworld too. :)

As far as I know, it's simply Konglish that originated recently from Cyworld. Konglish spreads quickly, especially when the majority of the Korean internet-savvy population uses it.

Cyworld...travesty~? It's the coolest travesty I've come across in a long time... ^^

홈피 is Hompy, which I've seen used only by Cyworld.com, which is more blog than homepage.
Mine is at http://www.cyworld.com/huangsy88/

I dont understand why anyone likes cyworld. They all look the same, have limited customizations available. And the cheesy characters or pictures to be added to the background are incredibly tacky and expensive. 3,000 for one week, please!

My wife has a cyworld that I have no idea why she would do that when I can install any script she wants - photo album, blog, comments whatever. Anyhow, I'm sure for Koreans it has something to do with the pack mentality. Perhaps someone could fill me in on what is appealing to the foreigner crowd.

Yes - I set up a cyworld, a short while ago, and played with it - but could see nothing there to keep me coming back.

I set up blog first at Yahoo Korea, which made sense bec English speaking Koreans wud drop by my blog and correct my broken Korean writing now and then.

Then I realised that a greater number of new friends in Singapore who are interested in all things Korean had set up Hompy at Cyworld, so I ended up setting up a Hompy because they don't know how to leave messages at Yahoo Blog.

As far as I know, these friends of mine (falling into the foreigners category) have a Hompy because their Korean friends set up the account before turning it over for them to play with.

I am IT illiterate and have no one to provide me scripts (what exactly is that ?), so a blog with all the ready made templates allows me to have a blog I otherwise would not.

Obviously Cyworld isn't made for the extremely talented at web design - it isn't meant for that. The point is to connect with many people, which it's perfect for. It's extremely low maintanance, and easy to maintain - there are A LOT of people on it (almost everyone I meet), so it's perfect for meeting/keeping in touch with people.
How many random Korean people have you met that might have ended up to be great friends but didn't because it was simply too much of a hassle to keep in touch? I'm simply too lazy to keep in touch with people sometimes.

I agree - it's tacky and quickly becomes the "same-old-same-old"...I'd never visit a Cyworld to ooohh and aaahhh at their ability to design and manipulate the web, but to chat with friends, it's great~! ^^
Koreans in general are quite nerdy, and sure, Cyworld fits right into that (hmmm...more nerdy than having a store of web scripts for every occasion?). :P I am still really bothered by their nerdiness and over-sentimentality quite often. But at the same time, it rings of more innocent days - in a childlike happiness kinda way. That's really refreshing at times. A 5 year old would LOVE Cyworld~ (Even he/she could use it.)

Like Philip I just enjoy the community atmosphere of the thing. It has been a great way to keep in touch with my Korean friends who are otherwise too intimidated to come to my real site (because of all the English). I still prefer my real site more because I have put more effort into it, but I see no reason why I can't have my cake and eat it too.

Wow, I didn't expect this much of a response. Yes I guess the community aspect of it is what appeals to most people. Who knows, when I switch into full-time Korean study mode next Saturday, perhaps I will be spending some time on cyworld.

Huang, a script is web software such as moovable type, wordpress, or expression engine (which powers Kangmi's site and mine).

I had no idea people loved their Cyworld so.

Huang, for what it's worth, I knew nothing about web design and HTML and CSS when I started blogging in January. I just know more now than I did then. While that's saying something, I'm no expert.

If I can do it, you can do it, too.

Hi Kelly,
Not too sure about 'loving' Cyworld but it serves a certain communication purpose.

You are definitely more IT literate than I. Well, you have just read my other comments on SuperMemo ....

As everyone has already mentioned, 홈피 is slang for "homepage," and isn't necessarily limited to Cyworld hompies. I'm unsure of the origins, whether the term existed before Cyworld or not.

I am anti-Cyworld, as are many other Koreans.

I'm really interested in starting a cyworld page. A few of my friends that are studying in korea were able to open thier own... I have long since lost contact with them..... Is there any way possible for a foreigner to start a cyworld page... and if possible... can you tell me the exact process.. I CAN'T READ KOREAN :D... I'm learning slowly... but not fast enough....

fuzz, it is possible, and I think someone (not sure who) who reads this site has put together a tutorial on how to sign up on cyworld. Anyone?

Yeah I signed up, but never use it it now. All you have to do is click the checkbox for 외국인 and you are good to go. However if you are having trouble reading Korean, you will have trouble with everything as it is 100% korean.

I've "attempted" to sign up before... and I've even gotten up to the point where I sign up for an email address.... but.. I get stopped at the point where I need to type the korean characters on a picture (authorization tactic I suppose) but I can't type it because I don't have the ability to type korean....anyways.... If someone can help with a "tutorial" :D that would be frickin wonderful :D.....

Are you unable to type Korean because you don't know how, or because your computer isn't set up to type Korean?

I'm unable to type because 1. I don't have a korean keyboard and 2. because I don't know how to write korean...
I'm learning the korean language... VERY SLOWLY... I'm trying to engulf myself in the culture... I was in incheon for 2 weeks about 2 months ago.. and I absolutely loved it there.. (can't wait to return...)... but the easiest way for me to learn is to be completely (or as much as possible) surounded by the culture (I'm even attemping the cuisine... ) but I really want to sign up for a cyworld account... So is anyone can help... I would greatly appreciate it..

I would recommend picking up Korean through English and learning how to read first. I taught myself how to read in one afternoon. Of course it took some time to pick up speed and accuracy but it can be done. After that learn some vocabulary and then get into cyworld. If you cannot read Korean cyworld will be useless for you.

What 왕음치 says is true. What are you using to learn to read Korean? The Sogang course is another good resource.

You don't need a Korean keyboard to be able to type Korean, but Korean keyboard labels will certainly help. Google "Korean keyboard labels" and you'll come up with something. My personal recomendation is to avoid the foil labels in favor of the vinyl ones...the vinyl ones last much longer.

Once you have those labels, actually typing Korean will become much easier. I'd be happy to be make a couple of recommendations once you get the labels...keep me posted.

Thank you 2 so much..... I will try the labels. I've been learning the characters slowly.. and the pronunciation.... still trying to get the hang of it.... but I think my big problem is that I'm trying everything at once (writing reading speaking).... anyways.. I think you are right... learning how to read and write first is better.... anyways.. thanks for your help :D